Home prices at a ten-year low, consumer spending on the rise, Freddie Mac offering home warranty credits to buyers, and more in today's industry news round-up!
When Walmart comes to town, home prices go...? l CNN Money
But new research suggests new Walmart stores may actually drive nearby home prices higher.
Home prices lowest since 2002 l CNN Money
Home prices hit new post-bubble lows in March, according to a report out Tuesday.
Successful, Local Businesses Could Increase Home Values l DSNews.com
Before moving toward home renovations to increase value, Independent We Stand, a national small business organization, has another suggestion: Support local, independently-owned businesses in the neighborhood.
Job Growth Weakest in a Year; Unemployment Rate Up l DSNews.com
The economy added just 69,000 jobs in May compared with a revised 77,000 in April down from the originally reported 115,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. The closely watched unemployment rate inched up to 8.2 percent â a function of an increase in the nationâs labor force to the highest level ever.
Personal Income Growth Slows in April; Consumer Spending Up l DSNews.com
Consumer spending grew just 0.3 percent in April, up slightly from 0.2 percent in March, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Friday. Economists had expected spending to be up 0.3 percent. At the same time, personal income grew 0.2 percent in April, BEA said, compared with market expectations of a 0.
Freddie: Fixed Rates Hover at Record Lows l Appraisal Institute
Mortgage rates remained at record low levels compared to the previous week, keeping home affordability at a positive level, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey released May 24. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped 0.01 percentage points from the previous week to 3.78 percent, while the 15-year rate held steady at 3.04 percent.
Freddie Mac Offering Home Warranty Credit to Buyers l DSNews.com
The incentive comes as an extension of Freddie Mac's First Look Initiative, a program designed to stabilize communities and support housing recovery. The initiative offers owner-occupants, second purchasers, and neighborhood stabilization non-profits a chance to purchase HomeSteps homes for a brief period after listing with no competition from investors.